Olivia Taylor
4-7-10
8-3 What were popular forms of sport, amusement, and entertainment in Shakespeare’s England? How were these different in urban/rural life? How were these different in noble/merchant/common life?
Entertainment played a significant part in the lives of the people in Elizabethan England. Whether it was sports, theater, or literature, there was always something to do. These activities also varied depending on where you lived and who you were.
One of the most popular forms of entertainment was sports. This included bowling, field hockey, football, fencing, tennis, and many more. Soccer, a popular game, was played much differently then how we play today. Julie Ferris, author of Shakespeare’s London, explains that “soccer is played using a leather ball. There are few rules. Two teams from different parts of the city meet between the two areas, and the object of the game is to get the ball back to your own part of the city any way you can. It is a very rough game and players are often injured” (19). Many people also practiced archery; however, it wasn’t just for fun. “Queen Elizabeth made it a requirement that all her male subjects to possess bows and arrows, and know how to use them”, explains Jeffery L. Singman, author of Daily Life in Elizabethan England (155). Hunting was one of the sports that the rich and poor both participated in. The poor hunted small birds and animals, while the wealthy hunted larger prey such as wild boar and deer. Sports were a great pastime in England because everybody could participate.
The theatre was also a big hot-spot in England during this time. The wealthy, some poor, and even the Queen herself would all go and enjoy the plays. Along with the plays, there were also concerts and other free shows that anybody could go to see. According to Liza Picard, author of Elizabeth’s London, “there was a free concert at the Royal Exchange, every Sunday in the summer, at four o’clock, when ‘the musicians of the City perform marvels of sound’ from the galleries of the tower there, ‘to the great contentment of all who hear’” (217).
At this time, literature was also becoming a household pastime. Many people bought Italian books that were translated into English, which according to Liza Picard, author of Elizabeth’s London, “were sold in every shop in London” (212). Books also started being published for less educated readers and travel books started to come out. Also, of course, there were copies of plays which could be read at home, sometimes years after they were preformed on stage.
Along with literature, came more home entertainment. Backgammon was played by the wealthy, and Nine Men’s Morris was played by the poor. Peter Chrisp, author of Shakespeare, explains how “Shepherds often cut the lines of the Morris board in the ground and played with pebbles” (15). Along with a few games that the men played, women also did embroidery in their free time. Card games, like Primero (which was the early form of poker) were also enjoyed by many people.
Whether you were poor or noble, lived in the city or out in the country, these pastimes played a large part in everyone’s lives. Works Cited
Chrisp, Peter. Shakespeare. New York, NY: DK publishing, 2002. 14-15. Print. Ferris, Julie. Shakespeare's London. New York, NY: KingFisher, 2000. 18-19. Print.
Picard, Liza. Elizabeth's London. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 2003. 212-229. Print.
Singman, Jeffey L. Daily Life in Elizabethan England. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1995. 149-170. Print.
4-7-10
8-3
What were popular forms of sport, amusement, and entertainment in Shakespeare’s England? How were these different in urban/rural life? How were these different in noble/merchant/common life?
Entertainment played a significant part in the lives of the people in Elizabethan England. Whether it was sports, theater, or literature, there was always something to do. These activities also varied depending on where you lived and who you were.
One of the most popular forms of entertainment was sports. This included bowling, field hockey, football, fencing, tennis, and many more. Soccer, a popular game, was played much differently then how we play today. Julie Ferris, author of Shakespeare’s London, explains that “soccer is played using a leather ball. There are few rules. Two teams from different parts of the city meet between the two areas, and the object of the game is to get the ball back to your own part of the city any way you can. It is a very rough game and players are often injured” (19). Many people also practiced archery; however, it wasn’t just for fun. “Queen Elizabeth made it a requirement that all her male subjects to possess bows and arrows, and know how to use them”, explains Jeffery L. Singman, author of Daily Life in Elizabethan England (155). Hunting was one of the sports that the rich and poor both participated in. The poor hunted small birds and animals, while the wealthy hunted larger prey such as wild boar and deer. Sports were a great pastime in England because everybody could participate.
The theatre was also a big hot-spot in England during this time. The wealthy, some poor, and even the Queen herself would all go and enjoy the plays. Along with the plays, there were also concerts and other free shows that anybody could go to see. According to Liza Picard, author of Elizabeth’s London, “there was a free concert at the Royal Exchange, every Sunday in the summer, at four o’clock, when ‘the musicians of the City perform marvels of sound’ from the galleries of the tower there, ‘to the great contentment of all who hear’” (217).
At this time, literature was also becoming a household pastime. Many people bought Italian books that were translated into English, which according to Liza Picard, author of Elizabeth’s London, “were sold in every shop in London” (212). Books also started being published for less educated readers and travel books started to come out. Also, of course, there were copies of plays which could be read at home, sometimes years after they were preformed on stage.
Along with literature, came more home entertainment. Backgammon was played by the wealthy, and Nine Men’s Morris was played by the poor. Peter Chrisp, author of Shakespeare, explains how “Shepherds often cut the lines of the Morris board in the ground and played with pebbles” (15). Along with a few games that the men played, women also did embroidery in their free time. Card games, like Primero (which was the early form of poker) were also enjoyed by many people.
Whether you were poor or noble, lived in the city or out in the country, these pastimes played a large part in everyone’s lives.
Works Cited
Chrisp, Peter. Shakespeare. New York, NY: DK publishing, 2002. 14-15. Print.
Ferris, Julie. Shakespeare's London. New York, NY: KingFisher, 2000. 18-19. Print.
Picard, Liza. Elizabeth's London. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 2003. 212-229. Print.
Singman, Jeffey L. Daily Life in Elizabethan England. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1995. 149-170. Print.